2006 Ridge Lytton Springs, USA, California, Sonoma, Dry Creek, Wine review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This has 80% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, and 4% Carignane.  It is drinking just wonderfully right now.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, dust, leather, slight earthiness and cherries.  On the palate, this is fresh with vibrant fruit and light tannins.  Black raspberries, slight peppery notes and a nice warm earthiness to it.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Just a lovely wine.  It won't get better but should continue to mature and evolve over the next decade.  Will work with almost any food at this point.  

2004 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Pop and pour, this wine is in a great place right now.  Ruby in color with some garnet swirls.  The nose is great with cherries, slight funk, and tea leaves.  On the palate, this has great acidity.  Lots of cherries with some dried cherries over some forest floor flavors.  Good finish.  This is past its time as a fruit bomb though it has plenty left.  It is developing some lovely tertiary qualities.  Of course, it needs some great pasta or other Italian foods on the dinner tables.  

2017 Urban Vintner Carménère, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
78
Grade: 
C+
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

Urban Vintner is an Ohio wine making wine from purchased grapes.  This wine was made from grapes purchased in Chile.  I tasted from a freshly opened bottle.  I was told it improved greatly with air.  Purple in color.  The nose is all about bell pepper.  Concentrated and persistent bell pepper.  Maybe a bit of smoke as well.  Now, a little bell pepper in a Cabernet can be charming at times, but this was unpleasant.  On the palate, this has tingling acidity.  Perhaps some trapped CO2.  There are some plums on the palate with slight tannins.  Short finish.  Tastes vary and you might like this,

2017 Urban Vintner Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Urban Vintner is an Ohio winery making wine from purchased grapes.  This particular wine uses grapes from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington State.  This was the best of their wines and is not only respectable but quite good.  Garnet in color.  The nose has black cherries with a slight herbal (chervil?) note.  The tannins come on strong at first but mellow out on the midpalate and finish.  There is some depth and complexity but this is young and could use a few years in the cellar.  It is a quality and varietally correct Cabernet.  It calls for bigger grilled or roasted foods and will also

2017 Urban Vintner Trigger Rouge Muddy Paw, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
82
Grade: 
B-
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is made by a winery in Ohio from California grapes.  It is a Zinfandel blend made in a lighter and easier style.  Light ruby in color.  The nose has candies cherries.  On the palate, this is sweet and almost cloying.  It reminds one of home made wines made in Italian communities often self referred to as "Dago Red".  Not a style that I prefer but those who like a sweet red will probably enjoy this more.  Food such as pizza or cheese would certainly help.

2017 Urban Vintner Sémillon Muddy Paws, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

Urban Vintner is an Ohio winery making wine in Ohio from purchased grapes around the globe.  Muddy Paws is their value line with $1 from every bottle going to the local animal rescue.  The grapes for this wine are from Washington state.  Light silvery green/gold in color.  The nose has some peach and a bit of citrus.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet with peach notes.   There is also a bit of a minty quality on the finish.  Not a lot of depth in this wine, but easy sweet wine.  Those looking for this type of wine will probably like it more than I.  Mostly a cocktail wine or with a nice

2017 Urban Vintner Sauvignon Blanc, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

This winery is located just east of Cleveland Ohio.  They purchase grapes from around the world and craft wines.  Most wines are sold locally or at their tasting room.  These grapes are from Clear Lake in Lake County, California.  Light silvery/gold in color.  The nose is a bit grassy with a slight melon note.  A nice slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is light.  Some melon notes.  It's a bit flat but overall an easy, clean wine with no faults.  This should be a popular wine at the tasting room on a Friday summer night.  

2015 Dirty and Rowdy Mourvedre Antle Vineyard, USA, California, Monterey, Chalone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This was being closed out at a local wine store for $45.  It was part of a "natural" wine tasting.  I thought it was the best wine of the tasting though the crowd was mixed.  Ruby in color, cloudy and slightly flat in appearance.  The nose has plums, cherries and a slightly sweaty quality.  A very nice texture.  On the palate, bright cherry fruit.  Long finish.  This is drinking quite well right now.  It will go with most heavier and medium bodied foods.  

2017 Cruse Wine Company Monkey Jacket, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a hodgepodge of grapes made in a "natural wine" style.  Twenty-five percent Alicante Bouschet, Grenache, Cinsault, Mondeuse, and Zinfandel from one source; another 25% Valdiguié; and the rest Syrah, Tannat, St. Laurent, and Carignan made from vineyards across California.  This was being closed out at a local wine store for $20.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a sweaty sock quality to it.  Once you get past that, there are some cherries and pomegranate notes.

2017 Gen Del Alma Jijiji Red, Argentina, Mendoza, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
78
Grade: 
C+
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

Tasted at a natural wine tasting.  This is an interesting wine if not particularly something I wold want to drink again.  Purple/garnet/dark brown in color.  The nose is different.  Starting out with an earthy/musty note, it cleans up with air showing some red berries which in turn are followed by a sweet tart and bubble gum note.  Probably caused by carbonic maceration.  On the palate, this has a tingly quality that could be some trapped CO2.  It is very tannic for such a light bodied wine.  Black cherries and mushroom with an underlying damp earthiness.  Clipped on the finish.  This was s

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